We have seen the Black Sea!

Friday, May 9, 2014

Çorum to Amasya (which, I might add, we have been mispronouncing for the past two years…you see, there is a little squiggle under the “C” (printed as Ç) – which makes it have a Ch sound – so, instead of Core-um, it is Chore-um! …)

Dinner last night was at the wonderful Anitta Hotel again, in their rooftop restaurant with a stunning view over the city.  This time, we both ordered soup – R got mushroom, and I got tomato with American cheese … both were great.  At the same time, R had ordered a shrimp starter, which was terrific – very small cocktail shrimp cooked with garlic cloves – YUM!  That definitely disappeared in a hurry!   Then, I had Spaghetti Bolonez (Turkish spelling, but same meaning) and Robert had a chicken stirfry with soy sauce, peppers, pearl onions and carrots.  We both enjoyed our meals very much!  Back downstairs for the night.

Up to a fairly foggy but bright morning – contrary to the predicted weather, which called for rain.  We went downstairs for breakfast – more of the traditional fare; lots of great cheese as well as raisins and hot chocolate.  Very enjoyable.

Two years ago when we were here, we found two books on ancient – Neolithic/chalcolithic civilizations in the Tigris and Euphrates areas; bought them both.  Now, we have found the same series with new books for Central Turkey and Eastern Turkey.  (We really are gluttons for punishment…love buying books and schlepping them around…)  In this case, we weren’t absolutely positive which volumes we had, and didn’t want to buy duplicates.  So, we asked our terrific neighbor, Bob LaCasce, if he would go into the house and check for us…which he did!  Thank you very much, Bob!  So, this morning, out to the museum across the street to pick up the books …and our load is now considerably heavier!  (Note:  Bob did email a bit ago asking if we could order the books on-line…to which I had to confess, that hadn’t occurred to either one of us!  Duh…)

Back to finish our packing up and check out of the lovely Anitta Hotel, Çorum.  Really, truly enjoyed our stay and do hope to return some day! 

As our next overnight stop, Amasya, (where we’ll be for three days) is only about 80 km from Çorum, we decided that now, as the weather was good, was the time to finally take a look at the Black Sea!  Four years ago, when we went to Istanbul, we took a ride on the Bosporus and almost made it there – but not quite (the boat stopped at a town just short of the Black Sea), and we were both feeling like it needed to be seen.  So, we headed to the really large city of Samsun first.  Quite an attractive city, built on hills overlooking the Black Sea; also the largest Turkish port.  Drove along the coast for a bit, just taking it easy.   It is really fascinating to sound out words in Turkish – sometimes they make no sense until you say them aloud, and then it’s Voila!  It makes sense!  (Examples:  Meksico; Taksi – I don’t think there is an X in Turkish.)

At any rate, about this time, we decided it was time to head to Amasya and find our new hotel, the Simre Otel.  Lovely driving, but we did run into quite a rainstorm along the way!  Fortunately, as we were coming into town, it stopped raining and the sun came out – a beautiful late afternoon!

View from our balcony looking across river

Amasya is a very interesting and old city, built along both sides of a shallow river.  The Hittites were here, as well as the Pontus tribe, Romans and Ottomans.  It was twice destroyed by raging Mongols – both Genghis Khan in 1243 and Tamerlane in 1401 dropped by to slaughter everyone in sight, thank you very much.  Our hotel (surprise!) is on the old side of the river.  In fact, there is a very narrow one-way road (unless you’re a pedestrian or motor scooter!) that is gated that we had to go through. 

View from same balcony, different direction!

Down the long, winding road until we reached our hotel.  Pulled up as close to the wall as I could, while R went in to find out about parking.  Relieved to find a young man to 1) help with luggage, and 2) park the car for us!  Yipee!! 

We’re in room 201, a “suite” on the second floor.  And, they have an elevator!  Really an interesting mixture of old and new.  Old building, very modern bathroom (can’t wait to play with the shower/bath!)  We have two rooms – a plainly furnished room with a lovely balcony and couch, table, chair, and then a very nice king-size bed with desk in the bedroom.  Two satellite TV sets, but very little in English, which is fine with us.  There is even a sports channel – as long as you don’t mind your sports being presented in Turkish, which I don’t!

Our space-age bath/shower!

Dropped everything and went out on a short journey of exploration.Walked along the main block, then crossed over one of the pedestrian bridges.  This particular bridge was built by the Romans, but when the silt started coming in, and filled in the river bed, there was a problem.  So, somebody ingenious built supports on top of the original Roman footings, and voila, new bridge, no problem!  Followed the river along, on the south side, taking photos all the way along.  The river itself isn’t terribly attractive – it is VERY shallow – but the setting is pretty, and the old Ottoman houses are quite lovely.  Tomorrow we’re heading to the local archeological museum down the street.

Close up of super shower!

 

Back to the hotel then, for some R&R. 

Robert relaxing!

I also took the laundry down to the front desk – and think that we’re getting it back tomorrow, “4 o’clock 9”  

Branch growing OUT of a house!

– whatever!

Now getting ready for dinner!  More later!

View of river running through town

Pontic tombs above hotel

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Base is Roman with later addition

M on bridge over river

Robert's mixed meat balls

Note:  Down the street to Grand Pasha Otel restaurant for dinner; sat by the river (although lots of smoke from the table up the stairs...we shared appetizers -- something resembling grape leaves stuffed with rice/nuts -- excellent; apparently a local speciality, plus eggplant in tomato sauce; excellent.  Then R had "mixed meat balls" with vegetables, and I had Tavuk Sote -- which works out to chicken saute...then home by 8:45 p.m. and off to sleep quickly, I hope!

Local speciality; can't remember name,but good!

Eggplant and tomatoes

Tavuk Sote

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